Introduction

When selecting a college, high school students and their families often try to identify universities which offer the best value for a high quality education. To help find this information, this analysis will use a dataset on data.gov which is maintained by the U.S. Department of Education and provides data about colleges at: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/.

Univariate Plot Section

While the dataset contains more than 2,000 fields of data, this report is going to focus on the annual cost, the average SAT scores of the students, and the average family income of the students who attended each school in the 2015-16 academic year. The dataset includes information about all kinds of schools. This report will only include the data pertaining to general, four year colleges.

I eliminated non-accredited, specialized schools, and schools that offer a highest degree of Associate’s level and selecting 4 year bachelor degree issuing schools, I was left with 1,165 observations.

Here are the fields I selected from the dataset:

## 'data.frame':    1550 obs. of  12 variables:
##  $ Name           : Factor w/ 7431 levels "A & W Healthcare Educators",..: 92 6666 240 6667 96 6393 389 407 406 665 ...
##  $ Avg SAT        : Factor w/ 464 levels "1001","1002",..: 344 138 464 195 340 163 464 454 192 153 ...
##  $ SATVR75        : Factor w/ 101 levels "378","380","390",..: 18 78 101 82 12 67 101 34 78 63 ...
##  $ SATMT75        : Factor w/ 102 levels "380","398","400",..: 18 81 102 85 13 65 102 37 76 65 ...
##  $ SATWR75        : Factor w/ 80 levels "360","385","391",..: 15 80 80 80 80 55 80 80 60 80 ...
##  $ Admission Rate : Factor w/ 1718 levels "0","0.0444","0.0504",..: 753 612 1718 1276 284 440 1718 1196 1164 428 ...
##  $ Cost Annual    : Factor w/ 3641 levels "10002","10018",..: 1330 1484 347 1351 1087 2067 3641 1134 2283 3079 ...
##  $ Family Income  : Factor w/ 5284 levels "100087.17276",..: 2477 4029 968 4288 2520 5158 3313 3292 5143 5137 ...
##  $ InStateTuition : Factor w/ 2973 levels "10000","10002",..: 2895 2730 2607 2872 2830 21 2973 2892 45 1610 ...
##  $ OutStateTuition: Factor w/ 3020 levels "10000","10008",..: 836 898 2611 1137 679 1448 3020 1096 1562 1790 ...
##  $ Latitude       : Factor w/ 7138 levels "-14.322587","13.432726",..: 2167 1468 1062 2130 1063 1376 2172 1065 1144 1474 ...
##  $ Longitude      : Factor w/ 7142 levels "-100.037275",..: 5095 5147 5033 5104 5066 5255 5180 5035 4909 5160 ...
Limitations of the data:

  • One major limitation of the data is that it only includes information about students who applied for financial aid through the federal government through FAFSA. Students are not required to apply for financial aid. According to CNN Money (http://time.com/money/4520236/college-financial-aid-why-students-dont-apply/), about 80% of college students apply for financial aid.

  • The average SAT scores appeared to be on the lower side. This is probably because colleges allow students to take the SAT multiple times and will use only the highest SAT scores in each section and then total them. To account for this, I replaced the given average SAT score with a new field: a calculated sum of the 75th percentile SAT scores in the math, reading, and writing sections, to get a more realistic average SAT score.

  • The data includes information entered by families applying for Federal student loans and grants, but does not include private loans, scholarships or grants. Therefore, data such as the average family income and average tuition paid are likely higher than what the numbers state. Students may not apply because their family income is too high so they would not be eligible, they may have chosen not to apply, or they may be international students and/or otherwise not eligible.

  • As noted in the Data Documentation (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/documentation/): “many elements are available only for Title IV recipients, or students who receive federal grants and loans.”

Data Cleaning

Data cleaning involved converting strings to numerics, removing NA’s, and creating the new calculated field for SAT Average.

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

## Warning: NAs introduced by coercion

The numeric fields after clean up:

## 'data.frame':    642 obs. of  3 variables:
##  $ SAT Avg      : num  1407 1810 1900 1540 1620 ...
##  $ Cost Annual  : num  20809 27205 29164 30539 17848 ...
##  $ Family Income: num  30490 89976 88988 35838 39316 ...

Here is a summary:

##     SAT Avg      Cost Annual    Family Income   
##  Min.   :1178   Min.   :10754   Min.   : 19831  
##  1st Qu.:1600   1st Qu.:22498   1st Qu.: 53276  
##  Median :1710   Median :34533   Median : 66122  
##  Mean   :1749   Mean   :35778   Mean   : 69460  
##  3rd Qu.:1870   3rd Qu.:46203   3rd Qu.: 83356  
##  Max.   :2400   Max.   :67572   Max.   :149589

After eliminating NAs and zero values for SAT and Annual Cost, we are left with 642 observations.

Average SAT score: 1749, Average Annual Cost (tuition + housing + food): $35,778, Average Family Income: $69,460

Univariate Plots

Univariate Analysis

I wanted to further break down the data so I separated the colleges into three groups:

1 - Schools that rank in the 90th percentile or higher based on SAT scores 2 - Schools in the 75th-90th percentile based on SAT scores *3 - Schools in the 50th-75th percentile based on SAT scores


After cleaning up the data, I wanted to group colleges in a meaningful way. The right fit for a student at a college might be related to many considerations, such as demographics, school size, location in a big city vs. a smaller suburb. Without data about GPA or campus culture, I decided that it might be most useful to group colleges by their SAT scores. Students with similar SAT scores would likely fit in better with other students who had similar scores. For example, if a school’s average SAT scores are much higher than a student’s SAT scores, then the student might find herself lost and stressed at the intensity of the pace of learning.

I considered other ways to evaluate schools for the best student to school match, for example demographics data such as gender, race and family income, but these are highly subjective and cannot indicate a good fit. SAT scores seemed like a good way to group the colleges.

As noted earlier, colleges allow students to take the SAT multiple times and will use only the highest SAT scores in each section to get a student’s total SAT score. Therefore, I used the sum of the 75th percentile SAT scores totaled by Math, Reading and Writing categories instead of the SAT Average to get a truer SAT average.

Colleges also consider a student’s Grade Point Average in High School, extra-curricular activities and essay submission when evaluating students. Without this data, this analysis is limited in how accurate it can be in selecting schools that would be a good match. It will, however, help to identify high quality schools that offer lower annual costs.

Note that the SAT scoring has changed as of 2017. The data in this analysis is based on the former scoring system. Conversion of 2017 and beyond scores to the previous scoring system can be found at: https://blog.ivywise.com/blog-0/sat-score-conversion-chart

The summary below shows that the highest score for each of the 3 sections: reading, math and writing, is 800. Highest total score for all 3 is 2400.
##     SAT Avg      Cost Annual    Family Income   
##  Min.   :1178   Min.   :10754   Min.   : 19831  
##  1st Qu.:1600   1st Qu.:22498   1st Qu.: 53276  
##  Median :1710   Median :34533   Median : 66122  
##  Mean   :1749   Mean   :35778   Mean   : 69460  
##  3rd Qu.:1870   3rd Qu.:46203   3rd Qu.: 83356  
##  Max.   :2400   Max.   :67572   Max.   :149589

The 75th percentile of the highest sum of SAT scores is 1870 and the 90th percentile is 2160. The mean is 1749.

Group 1: 90th percentile of the SAT Average and Higher: (2170-2400), Orderd by SAT Scores

Group 1: Colleges by SAT Score
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
110404 California Institute of Technology 2400 60990 80002.54
130794 Yale University 2390 63970 86224.56
166027 Harvard University 2390 62250 58620.07
144050 University of Chicago 2380 67572 103014.73
186131 Princeton University 2380 59665 63688.48
166683 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2360 61030 86251.19
190150 Columbia University in the City of New York 2360 66604 60857.11
221999 Vanderbilt University 2360 62320 90164.42
243744 Stanford University 2360 62363 84186.75
182670 Dartmouth College 2340 65133 88994.52
217156 Brown University 2340 62694 106820.28
147767 Northwestern University 2330 65436 102986.91
168342 Williams College 2330 64020 95346.89
198419 Duke University 2330 63999 74260.30
215062 University of Pennsylvania 2330 64200 84604.48
227757 Rice University 2330 56316 73796.28
164465 Amherst College 2323 64006 76877.73
115409 Harvey Mudd College 2320 66627 115901.13
179867 Washington University in St Louis 2320 65887 122616.27
121345 Pomona College 2300 62632 67360.66
162928 Johns Hopkins University 2300 63509 89128.02
211440 Carnegie Mellon University 2300 63804 110918.11
212911 Haverford College 2300 64226 101553.85
112260 Claremont McKenna College 2290 64215 105450.29
216287 Swarthmore College 2290 62450 84985.32
110635 University of California-Berkeley 2270 33993 54357.97
168148 Tufts University 2270 63358 105468.66
173258 Carleton College 2270 62465 93496.93
230959 Middlebury College 2260 61160 87785.76
123961 University of Southern California 2250 64536 80341.72
167358 Northeastern University 2240 60179 104100.65
168218 Wellesley College 2240 61088 83918.20
197133 Vassar College 2240 63390 86361.85
139755 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 2230 24629 89378.84
170976 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 2230 26850 97203.66
139658 Emory University 2220 61344 69044.54
201645 Case Western Reserve University 2210 59467 92196.90
209922 Reed College 2210 61795 94533.43
110662 University of California-Los Angeles 2200 32594 53804.34
164924 Boston College 2200 62968 129669.95
193900 New York University 2200 65405 86408.92
234207 Washington and Lee University 2200 61310 138540.22
161086 Colby College 2190 61100 130447.59
173902 Macalester College 2190 59743 100087.17
189097 Barnard College 2190 63105 91044.76
211273 Bryn Mawr College 2190 61890 93933.40
165015 Brandeis University 2180 63222 94248.25
204501 Oberlin College 2180 64396 132824.88
231624 College of William and Mary 2180 31175 112631.67
234076 University of Virginia-Main Campus 2180 27010 96898.89
123165 Scripps College 2178 63740 103902.02
Group 1: Colleges by Annual Cost
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
139755 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 2230 24629 89378.84
170976 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 2230 26850 97203.66
234076 University of Virginia-Main Campus 2180 27010 96898.89
231624 College of William and Mary 2180 31175 112631.67
110662 University of California-Los Angeles 2200 32594 53804.34
110635 University of California-Berkeley 2270 33993 54357.97
227757 Rice University 2330 56316 73796.28
201645 Case Western Reserve University 2210 59467 92196.90
186131 Princeton University 2380 59665 63688.48
173902 Macalester College 2190 59743 100087.17
167358 Northeastern University 2240 60179 104100.65
110404 California Institute of Technology 2400 60990 80002.54
166683 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2360 61030 86251.19
168218 Wellesley College 2240 61088 83918.20
161086 Colby College 2190 61100 130447.59
230959 Middlebury College 2260 61160 87785.76
234207 Washington and Lee University 2200 61310 138540.22
139658 Emory University 2220 61344 69044.54
209922 Reed College 2210 61795 94533.43
211273 Bryn Mawr College 2190 61890 93933.40
166027 Harvard University 2390 62250 58620.07
221999 Vanderbilt University 2360 62320 90164.42
243744 Stanford University 2360 62363 84186.75
216287 Swarthmore College 2290 62450 84985.32
173258 Carleton College 2270 62465 93496.93
121345 Pomona College 2300 62632 67360.66
217156 Brown University 2340 62694 106820.28
164924 Boston College 2200 62968 129669.95
189097 Barnard College 2190 63105 91044.76
165015 Brandeis University 2180 63222 94248.25
168148 Tufts University 2270 63358 105468.66
197133 Vassar College 2240 63390 86361.85
162928 Johns Hopkins University 2300 63509 89128.02
123165 Scripps College 2178 63740 103902.02
211440 Carnegie Mellon University 2300 63804 110918.11
130794 Yale University 2390 63970 86224.56
198419 Duke University 2330 63999 74260.30
164465 Amherst College 2323 64006 76877.73
168342 Williams College 2330 64020 95346.89
215062 University of Pennsylvania 2330 64200 84604.48
112260 Claremont McKenna College 2290 64215 105450.29
212911 Haverford College 2300 64226 101553.85
204501 Oberlin College 2180 64396 132824.88
123961 University of Southern California 2250 64536 80341.72
182670 Dartmouth College 2340 65133 88994.52
193900 New York University 2200 65405 86408.92
147767 Northwestern University 2330 65436 102986.91
179867 Washington University in St Louis 2320 65887 122616.27
190150 Columbia University in the City of New York 2360 66604 60857.11
115409 Harvey Mudd College 2320 66627 115901.13
144050 University of Chicago 2380 67572 103014.73
Group 1: Colleges by Family Income
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
110662 University of California-Los Angeles 2200 32594 53804.34
110635 University of California-Berkeley 2270 33993 54357.97
166027 Harvard University 2390 62250 58620.07
190150 Columbia University in the City of New York 2360 66604 60857.11
186131 Princeton University 2380 59665 63688.48
121345 Pomona College 2300 62632 67360.66
139658 Emory University 2220 61344 69044.54
227757 Rice University 2330 56316 73796.28
198419 Duke University 2330 63999 74260.30
164465 Amherst College 2323 64006 76877.73
110404 California Institute of Technology 2400 60990 80002.54
123961 University of Southern California 2250 64536 80341.72
168218 Wellesley College 2240 61088 83918.20
243744 Stanford University 2360 62363 84186.75
215062 University of Pennsylvania 2330 64200 84604.48
216287 Swarthmore College 2290 62450 84985.32
130794 Yale University 2390 63970 86224.56
166683 Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2360 61030 86251.19
197133 Vassar College 2240 63390 86361.85
193900 New York University 2200 65405 86408.92
230959 Middlebury College 2260 61160 87785.76
182670 Dartmouth College 2340 65133 88994.52
162928 Johns Hopkins University 2300 63509 89128.02
139755 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 2230 24629 89378.84
221999 Vanderbilt University 2360 62320 90164.42
189097 Barnard College 2190 63105 91044.76
201645 Case Western Reserve University 2210 59467 92196.90
173258 Carleton College 2270 62465 93496.93
211273 Bryn Mawr College 2190 61890 93933.40
165015 Brandeis University 2180 63222 94248.25
209922 Reed College 2210 61795 94533.43
168342 Williams College 2330 64020 95346.89
234076 University of Virginia-Main Campus 2180 27010 96898.89
170976 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor 2230 26850 97203.66
173902 Macalester College 2190 59743 100087.17
212911 Haverford College 2300 64226 101553.85
147767 Northwestern University 2330 65436 102986.91
144050 University of Chicago 2380 67572 103014.73
123165 Scripps College 2178 63740 103902.02
167358 Northeastern University 2240 60179 104100.65
112260 Claremont McKenna College 2290 64215 105450.29
168148 Tufts University 2270 63358 105468.66
217156 Brown University 2340 62694 106820.28
211440 Carnegie Mellon University 2300 63804 110918.11
231624 College of William and Mary 2180 31175 112631.67
115409 Harvey Mudd College 2320 66627 115901.13
179867 Washington University in St Louis 2320 65887 122616.27
164924 Boston College 2200 62968 129669.95
161086 Colby College 2190 61100 130447.59
204501 Oberlin College 2180 64396 132824.88
234207 Washington and Lee University 2200 61310 138540.22

Summary of the Group 1 Colleges

##     SAT Avg      Cost Annual    Family Income   
##  Min.   :2178   Min.   :24629   Min.   : 53804  
##  1st Qu.:2205   1st Qu.:61059   1st Qu.: 84052  
##  Median :2270   Median :62632   Median : 91045  
##  Mean   :2276   Mean   :58977   Mean   : 92495  
##  3rd Qu.:2330   3rd Qu.:64013   3rd Qu.:103458  
##  Max.   :2400   Max.   :67572   Max.   :138540

For Group 1, the Average Annual Cost of colleges in the 90th percentile and up based on average SAT scores was $58,977 in 2015.
Group 1 average SAT scores: 2276 Group 1 average family income of those students who applied for financial aid: $92,495

The average SAT score for Group 1 colleges is between 2276.

The average annual cost of most Group 1 colleges is $58,977. Private colleges in Group 1 cost about twice as much per year as public colleges with in-state tuition.

The average family income of students in Group 1 colleges who applied for Federal financial aid is $92,495.

Group 2: Schools in the 75-90th percentile as ranked by the sum of the three highest SAT scores

Group 2: Colleges by SAT Score
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
145637 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2160 29568 84770.01
110680 University of California-San Diego 2160 30837 52686.74
198385 Davidson College 2160 60921 101805.66
203535 Kenyon College 2140 62160 122673.24
199120 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2130 23940 79797.67
174066 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2130 24823 86275.21
160755 Tulane University of Louisiana 2130 62856 98143.93
237057 Whitman College 2120 58228 114423.69
233374 University of Richmond 2120 59569 94688.38
149781 Wheaton College 2110 43715 105146.16
240444 University of Wisconsin-Madison 2100 24315 103404.77
228778 The University of Texas at Austin 2100 26119 74066.44
228246 Southern Methodist University 2100 63364 107754.26
164988 Boston University 2100 63588 105573.07
216597 Villanova University 2090 60556 130461.76
124292 Thomas Aquinas College 2080 35706 99704.54
211291 Bucknell University 2080 63040 129447.03
131469 George Washington University 2080 63159 105773.86
126775 Colorado School of Mines 2070 30990 101298.66
135726 University of Miami 2070 61666 96081.77
213385 Lafayette College 2070 61905 149588.61
120254 Occidental College 2070 64804 96036.73
196079 SUNY at Binghamton 2053 23480 79298.10
262129 New College of Florida 2050 20004 63559.50
204796 Ohio State University-Main Campus 2050 25306 77577.24
196097 Stony Brook University 2040 22000 62477.80
145646 Illinois Wesleyan University 2040 52548 113055.83
399911 Soka University of America 2030 44550 55530.39
197708 Yeshiva University 2030 56555 97914.52
191241 Fordham University 2030 60867 125462.25
230038 Brigham Young University-Provo 2020 17504 57623.56
134130 University of Florida 2020 20467 54908.94
228787 The University of Texas at Dallas 2020 23133 51393.09
236948 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 2020 25240 57388.95
215293 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus 2020 32754 93236.99
195526 Skidmore College 2013 62750 113843.63
131159 American University 2010 58965 102820.34
186380 Rutgers University-New Brunswick 2000 29076 64200.55
173142 Bethany Lutheran College 2000 33807 71053.70
206589 The College of Wooster 2000 55500 101369.10
139959 University of Georgia 1990 22536 81422.10
171128 Michigan Technological University 1990 26306 83956.09
129020 University of Connecticut 1990 28016 87047.28
110644 University of California-Davis 1990 33271 50549.67
110705 University of California-Santa Barbara 1990 34496 55149.87
224323 University of Dallas 1990 49643 97006.72
210401 Willamette University 1980 56834 96816.32
164739 Bentley University 1980 58788 120151.03
195003 Rochester Institute of Technology 1970 49013 84067.18
165662 Emerson College 1970 55818 115630.60
121150 Pepperdine University 1970 63482 104930.53
243780 Purdue University-Main Campus 1960 22581 91660.97
199193 North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1960 22767 78488.38
187134 The College of New Jersey 1960 30299 107741.09
218441 North Greenville University 1960 30403 58410.09
223232 Baylor University 1960 53892 99949.03
122436 University of San Diego 1960 59234 93138.25
233921 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1950 25837 100847.20
127060 University of Denver 1950 56992 102003.80
117946 Loyola Marymount University 1950 58531 103342.92
111948 Chapman University 1950 61231 96711.48
178411 Missouri University of Science and Technology 1940 21793 75714.08
163268 University of Maryland-Baltimore County 1940 22873 66175.31
130943 University of Delaware 1940 24086 122411.46
185828 New Jersey Institute of Technology 1940 28150 56321.92
231174 University of Vermont 1940 29332 107398.51
214777 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 1940 34258 80547.64
443410 DigiPen Institute of Technology 1940 41573 76656.56
198516 Elon University 1940 45186 144722.18
239105 Marquette University 1940 49868 118342.36
125727 Westmont College 1940 55570 109471.93
118888 Mills College 1940 58812 57467.19
107141 John Brown University 1935 35706 64665.35
140447 Mercer University 1935 48016 61815.21
110714 University of California-Santa Cruz 1930 34124 57985.70
139393 Covenant College 1930 41320 85991.37
173665 Hamline University 1930 46670 71525.64
153162 Cornell College 1930 50804 95737.75
196413 Syracuse University 1930 59047 98260.83
230764 University of Utah 1920 19447 51061.42
134097 Florida State University 1920 21463 65105.75
228723 Texas A & M University-College Station 1920 22893 75776.42
174251 University of Minnesota-Morris 1920 23141 69668.72
201654 Cedarville University 1920 35309 84764.17
153250 Dordt College 1920 39928 94154.28
222983 Austin College 1920 48837 79684.71
228875 Texas Christian University 1920 53532 110495.72
151351 Indiana University-Bloomington 1910 24326 95400.12
201885 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 1910 26370 67618.72
110653 University of California-Irvine 1910 30796 48494.66
236595 Seattle University 1910 54668 92445.53
120883 University of the Pacific 1910 55473 68896.34
150400 DePauw University 1910 56146 107446.38
100858 Auburn University 1900 29164 88987.81
181002 Creighton University 1900 48767 110479.91
454184 The King’s College 1890 49487 79942.23
146719 Loyola University Chicago 1890 50954 82189.16
190044 Clarkson University 1890 59672 99232.87
180461 Montana State University 1880 18961 69548.09
132903 University of Central Florida 1880 19911 46454.55
199218 University of North Carolina Wilmington 1880 21050 69080.00
144971 Eureka College 1880 29515 65492.13
226231 LeTourneau University 1880 39986 57221.41
152530 Taylor University 1880 40960 86388.13
218973 Wofford College 1880 50897 105349.99
122612 University of San Francisco 1880 59603 81757.37
153834 Luther College 1875 49758 100346.80
153144 Coe College 1873 48923 77097.25
Group 2: Colleges by Annual Cost
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
230038 Brigham Young University-Provo 2020 17504 57623.56
180461 Montana State University 1880 18961 69548.09
230764 University of Utah 1920 19447 51061.42
132903 University of Central Florida 1880 19911 46454.55
262129 New College of Florida 2050 20004 63559.50
134130 University of Florida 2020 20467 54908.94
199218 University of North Carolina Wilmington 1880 21050 69080.00
134097 Florida State University 1920 21463 65105.75
178411 Missouri University of Science and Technology 1940 21793 75714.08
196097 Stony Brook University 2040 22000 62477.80
139959 University of Georgia 1990 22536 81422.10
243780 Purdue University-Main Campus 1960 22581 91660.97
199193 North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1960 22767 78488.38
163268 University of Maryland-Baltimore County 1940 22873 66175.31
228723 Texas A & M University-College Station 1920 22893 75776.42
228787 The University of Texas at Dallas 2020 23133 51393.09
174251 University of Minnesota-Morris 1920 23141 69668.72
196079 SUNY at Binghamton 2053 23480 79298.10
199120 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2130 23940 79797.67
130943 University of Delaware 1940 24086 122411.46
240444 University of Wisconsin-Madison 2100 24315 103404.77
151351 Indiana University-Bloomington 1910 24326 95400.12
174066 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2130 24823 86275.21
236948 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 2020 25240 57388.95
204796 Ohio State University-Main Campus 2050 25306 77577.24
233921 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1950 25837 100847.20
228778 The University of Texas at Austin 2100 26119 74066.44
171128 Michigan Technological University 1990 26306 83956.09
201885 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 1910 26370 67618.72
129020 University of Connecticut 1990 28016 87047.28
185828 New Jersey Institute of Technology 1940 28150 56321.92
186380 Rutgers University-New Brunswick 2000 29076 64200.55
100858 Auburn University 1900 29164 88987.81
231174 University of Vermont 1940 29332 107398.51
144971 Eureka College 1880 29515 65492.13
145637 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2160 29568 84770.01
187134 The College of New Jersey 1960 30299 107741.09
218441 North Greenville University 1960 30403 58410.09
110653 University of California-Irvine 1910 30796 48494.66
110680 University of California-San Diego 2160 30837 52686.74
126775 Colorado School of Mines 2070 30990 101298.66
215293 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus 2020 32754 93236.99
110644 University of California-Davis 1990 33271 50549.67
173142 Bethany Lutheran College 2000 33807 71053.70
110714 University of California-Santa Cruz 1930 34124 57985.70
214777 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 1940 34258 80547.64
110705 University of California-Santa Barbara 1990 34496 55149.87
201654 Cedarville University 1920 35309 84764.17
124292 Thomas Aquinas College 2080 35706 99704.54
107141 John Brown University 1935 35706 64665.35
153250 Dordt College 1920 39928 94154.28
226231 LeTourneau University 1880 39986 57221.41
152530 Taylor University 1880 40960 86388.13
139393 Covenant College 1930 41320 85991.37
443410 DigiPen Institute of Technology 1940 41573 76656.56
149781 Wheaton College 2110 43715 105146.16
399911 Soka University of America 2030 44550 55530.39
198516 Elon University 1940 45186 144722.18
173665 Hamline University 1930 46670 71525.64
140447 Mercer University 1935 48016 61815.21
181002 Creighton University 1900 48767 110479.91
222983 Austin College 1920 48837 79684.71
153144 Coe College 1873 48923 77097.25
195003 Rochester Institute of Technology 1970 49013 84067.18
454184 The King’s College 1890 49487 79942.23
224323 University of Dallas 1990 49643 97006.72
153834 Luther College 1875 49758 100346.80
239105 Marquette University 1940 49868 118342.36
153162 Cornell College 1930 50804 95737.75
218973 Wofford College 1880 50897 105349.99
146719 Loyola University Chicago 1890 50954 82189.16
145646 Illinois Wesleyan University 2040 52548 113055.83
228875 Texas Christian University 1920 53532 110495.72
223232 Baylor University 1960 53892 99949.03
236595 Seattle University 1910 54668 92445.53
120883 University of the Pacific 1910 55473 68896.34
206589 The College of Wooster 2000 55500 101369.10
125727 Westmont College 1940 55570 109471.93
165662 Emerson College 1970 55818 115630.60
150400 DePauw University 1910 56146 107446.38
197708 Yeshiva University 2030 56555 97914.52
210401 Willamette University 1980 56834 96816.32
127060 University of Denver 1950 56992 102003.80
237057 Whitman College 2120 58228 114423.69
117946 Loyola Marymount University 1950 58531 103342.92
164739 Bentley University 1980 58788 120151.03
118888 Mills College 1940 58812 57467.19
131159 American University 2010 58965 102820.34
196413 Syracuse University 1930 59047 98260.83
122436 University of San Diego 1960 59234 93138.25
233374 University of Richmond 2120 59569 94688.38
122612 University of San Francisco 1880 59603 81757.37
190044 Clarkson University 1890 59672 99232.87
216597 Villanova University 2090 60556 130461.76
191241 Fordham University 2030 60867 125462.25
198385 Davidson College 2160 60921 101805.66
111948 Chapman University 1950 61231 96711.48
135726 University of Miami 2070 61666 96081.77
213385 Lafayette College 2070 61905 149588.61
203535 Kenyon College 2140 62160 122673.24
195526 Skidmore College 2013 62750 113843.63
160755 Tulane University of Louisiana 2130 62856 98143.93
211291 Bucknell University 2080 63040 129447.03
131469 George Washington University 2080 63159 105773.86
228246 Southern Methodist University 2100 63364 107754.26
121150 Pepperdine University 1970 63482 104930.53
164988 Boston University 2100 63588 105573.07
120254 Occidental College 2070 64804 96036.73
Group 2: Colleges by Family Income
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
132903 University of Central Florida 1880 19911 46454.55
110653 University of California-Irvine 1910 30796 48494.66
110644 University of California-Davis 1990 33271 50549.67
230764 University of Utah 1920 19447 51061.42
228787 The University of Texas at Dallas 2020 23133 51393.09
110680 University of California-San Diego 2160 30837 52686.74
134130 University of Florida 2020 20467 54908.94
110705 University of California-Santa Barbara 1990 34496 55149.87
399911 Soka University of America 2030 44550 55530.39
185828 New Jersey Institute of Technology 1940 28150 56321.92
226231 LeTourneau University 1880 39986 57221.41
236948 University of Washington-Seattle Campus 2020 25240 57388.95
118888 Mills College 1940 58812 57467.19
230038 Brigham Young University-Provo 2020 17504 57623.56
110714 University of California-Santa Cruz 1930 34124 57985.70
218441 North Greenville University 1960 30403 58410.09
140447 Mercer University 1935 48016 61815.21
196097 Stony Brook University 2040 22000 62477.80
262129 New College of Florida 2050 20004 63559.50
186380 Rutgers University-New Brunswick 2000 29076 64200.55
107141 John Brown University 1935 35706 64665.35
134097 Florida State University 1920 21463 65105.75
144971 Eureka College 1880 29515 65492.13
163268 University of Maryland-Baltimore County 1940 22873 66175.31
201885 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 1910 26370 67618.72
120883 University of the Pacific 1910 55473 68896.34
199218 University of North Carolina Wilmington 1880 21050 69080.00
180461 Montana State University 1880 18961 69548.09
174251 University of Minnesota-Morris 1920 23141 69668.72
173142 Bethany Lutheran College 2000 33807 71053.70
173665 Hamline University 1930 46670 71525.64
228778 The University of Texas at Austin 2100 26119 74066.44
178411 Missouri University of Science and Technology 1940 21793 75714.08
228723 Texas A & M University-College Station 1920 22893 75776.42
443410 DigiPen Institute of Technology 1940 41573 76656.56
153144 Coe College 1873 48923 77097.25
204796 Ohio State University-Main Campus 2050 25306 77577.24
199193 North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1960 22767 78488.38
196079 SUNY at Binghamton 2053 23480 79298.10
222983 Austin College 1920 48837 79684.71
199120 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2130 23940 79797.67
454184 The King’s College 1890 49487 79942.23
214777 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 1940 34258 80547.64
139959 University of Georgia 1990 22536 81422.10
122612 University of San Francisco 1880 59603 81757.37
146719 Loyola University Chicago 1890 50954 82189.16
171128 Michigan Technological University 1990 26306 83956.09
195003 Rochester Institute of Technology 1970 49013 84067.18
201654 Cedarville University 1920 35309 84764.17
145637 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 2160 29568 84770.01
139393 Covenant College 1930 41320 85991.37
174066 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 2130 24823 86275.21
152530 Taylor University 1880 40960 86388.13
129020 University of Connecticut 1990 28016 87047.28
100858 Auburn University 1900 29164 88987.81
243780 Purdue University-Main Campus 1960 22581 91660.97
236595 Seattle University 1910 54668 92445.53
122436 University of San Diego 1960 59234 93138.25
215293 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus 2020 32754 93236.99
153250 Dordt College 1920 39928 94154.28
233374 University of Richmond 2120 59569 94688.38
151351 Indiana University-Bloomington 1910 24326 95400.12
153162 Cornell College 1930 50804 95737.75
120254 Occidental College 2070 64804 96036.73
135726 University of Miami 2070 61666 96081.77
111948 Chapman University 1950 61231 96711.48
210401 Willamette University 1980 56834 96816.32
224323 University of Dallas 1990 49643 97006.72
197708 Yeshiva University 2030 56555 97914.52
160755 Tulane University of Louisiana 2130 62856 98143.93
196413 Syracuse University 1930 59047 98260.83
190044 Clarkson University 1890 59672 99232.87
124292 Thomas Aquinas College 2080 35706 99704.54
223232 Baylor University 1960 53892 99949.03
153834 Luther College 1875 49758 100346.80
233921 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1950 25837 100847.20
126775 Colorado School of Mines 2070 30990 101298.66
206589 The College of Wooster 2000 55500 101369.10
198385 Davidson College 2160 60921 101805.66
127060 University of Denver 1950 56992 102003.80
131159 American University 2010 58965 102820.34
117946 Loyola Marymount University 1950 58531 103342.92
240444 University of Wisconsin-Madison 2100 24315 103404.77
121150 Pepperdine University 1970 63482 104930.53
149781 Wheaton College 2110 43715 105146.16
218973 Wofford College 1880 50897 105349.99
164988 Boston University 2100 63588 105573.07
131469 George Washington University 2080 63159 105773.86
231174 University of Vermont 1940 29332 107398.51
150400 DePauw University 1910 56146 107446.38
187134 The College of New Jersey 1960 30299 107741.09
228246 Southern Methodist University 2100 63364 107754.26
125727 Westmont College 1940 55570 109471.93
181002 Creighton University 1900 48767 110479.91
228875 Texas Christian University 1920 53532 110495.72
145646 Illinois Wesleyan University 2040 52548 113055.83
195526 Skidmore College 2013 62750 113843.63
237057 Whitman College 2120 58228 114423.69
165662 Emerson College 1970 55818 115630.60
239105 Marquette University 1940 49868 118342.36
164739 Bentley University 1980 58788 120151.03
130943 University of Delaware 1940 24086 122411.46
203535 Kenyon College 2140 62160 122673.24
191241 Fordham University 2030 60867 125462.25
211291 Bucknell University 2080 63040 129447.03
216597 Villanova University 2090 60556 130461.76
198516 Elon University 1940 45186 144722.18
213385 Lafayette College 2070 61905 149588.61

Summary of Schools in the 75th - 90th Percentiles based on SAT Scores

##     SAT Avg      Cost Annual    Family Income   
##  Min.   :1873   Min.   :17504   Min.   : 46455  
##  1st Qu.:1920   1st Qu.:26259   1st Qu.: 69431  
##  Median :1960   Median :41446   Median : 88018  
##  Mean   :1983   Mean   :41643   Mean   : 87714  
##  3rd Qu.:2032   3rd Qu.:56625   3rd Qu.:102951  
##  Max.   :2160   Max.   :64804   Max.   :149589

Group 2 colleges average annual cost was $41,643 in 2015.
Average of the highest Total SAT scores: 1983 Average family income of those students who applied for financial aid: $87,714.

Average SAT score for colleges in Group 2 is 1983.

Average annual cost for Group 2 colleges ranges from about $17,000 to $65,000 and is $41,643.

The average family income for Group 2 colleges is $87,714.

Group 3: The 50th - 75th percentile schools as measured by the highest SAT scores combined: between 1749 and 1870

Group 3: Colleges by SAT Score
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
168591 Alma College 1868 46606 76933.67
179894 Webster University 1865 40119 55684.46
121309 Point Loma Nazarene University 1860 45457 87367.78
150163 Butler University 1860 50538 120099.16
156295 Berea College 1860 34180 26941.64
157085 University of Kentucky 1860 24738 79063.79
199111 University of North Carolina at Asheville 1860 19760 60253.41
202480 University of Dayton 1860 51320 129649.39
230852 Champlain College 1860 49702 83884.22
154527 Wartburg College 1853 47387 90808.50
110097 Biola University 1850 47468 77676.58
139144 Berry College 1850 43910 89119.40
145600 University of Illinois at Chicago 1850 25046 47070.24
152673 Wabash College 1850 48980 95103.06
165936 Gordon College 1850 46520 96159.03
213996 Messiah College 1850 43798 95298.79
231712 Christopher Newport University 1850 26286 106437.98
148487 Roosevelt University 1845 40660 48666.44
169716 University of Detroit Mercy 1844 49675 62833.00
110671 University of California-Riverside 1840 30943 49287.72
123554 Saint Mary’s College of California 1840 59167 96530.64
168740 Andrews University 1840 36206 62556.53
171100 Michigan State University 1840 24976 85377.93
188429 Adelphi University 1840 45034 78107.88
197869 Appalachian State University 1840 19359 71355.60
232308 Hollins University 1840 49184 57137.34
102049 Samford University 1830 42270 100134.75
134079 Florida Southern College 1830 42822 80768.92
136172 University of North Florida 1830 20616 52726.76
139861 Georgia College and State University 1830 24478 87662.15
140696 Oglethorpe University 1830 46409 59068.45
150534 University of Evansville 1830 44416 78175.32
152390 Saint Mary’s College 1830 49078 105716.47
157289 University of Louisville 1830 23873 64728.09
204635 Ohio Northern University 1830 42680 85486.28
209542 Oregon State University 1830 24418 60249.05
236230 Pacific Lutheran University 1830 49488 72082.49
131520 Howard University 1820 43116 55842.08
152600 Valparaiso University 1820 45945 78929.94
180489 The University of Montana 1820 16807 53879.13
204936 Otterbein University 1820 43880 81096.86
227845 Saint Edward’s University 1820 49239 64351.20
181394 University of Nebraska at Omaha 1813 17148 60067.57
100751 The University of Alabama 1810 27205 89976.37
117751 The Master’s University and Seminary 1810 43200 72097.43
196176 State University of New York at New Paltz 1810 21716 68525.39
207324 Oklahoma Christian University 1810 30501 80738.19
232256 Hampden-Sydney College 1810 54368 110845.12
232681 University of Mary Washington 1810 24076 89375.32
237011 Western Washington University 1810 22864 67253.53
446048 Ave Maria University 1810 31192 93274.32
110413 California Lutheran University 1800 52386 81817.18
183044 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus 1800 30246 99680.96
204857 Ohio University-Main Campus 1800 25483 68825.06
233426 Roanoke College 1798 52588 100572.43
144962 Elmhurst College 1795 44473 66128.17
102614 University of Alaska Fairbanks 1790 16025 47045.83
180106 Carroll College 1790 42391 87067.02
180416 Montana Tech of the University of Montana 1790 17508 52720.93
207458 Oklahoma City University 1790 45171 77081.24
208822 George Fox University 1790 43901 75482.35
211088 Arcadia University 1790 51888 77160.08
227863 University of St Thomas 1790 40040 54396.70
229115 Texas Tech University 1790 21869 71479.98
234030 Virginia Commonwealth University 1790 28631 69278.62
451671 University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee 1790 12515 48190.07
198695 High Point University 1789 46710 142304.23
161253 University of Maine 1788 22444 72127.14
150756 Hanover College 1780 45338 79443.61
174233 University of Minnesota-Duluth 1780 23099 88656.11
192703 Manhattan College 1780 50517 91020.53
200332 North Dakota State University-Main Campus 1780 19198 84969.64
201548 Capital University 1780 44099 72510.13
203368 John Carroll University 1780 48728 109148.27
235167 The Evergreen State College 1780 22253 39228.28
217633 Anderson University 1773 38307 74297.13
130226 Quinnipiac University 1770 56764 122012.89
147244 Millikin University 1770 40764 64093.23
150136 Ball State University 1770 22294 72605.34
168227 Wentworth Institute of Technology 1770 48907 90446.54
170675 Lawrence Technological University 1770 42707 68357.77
206604 Wright State University-Main Campus 1770 19446 54689.23
206622 Xavier University 1770 47980 103888.52
232557 Liberty University 1770 33078 41805.23
159993 University of Louisiana at Monroe 1768 16944 47736.61
173045 Augsburg College 1765 46545 62105.35
101709 University of Montevallo 1760 22840 51637.79
136330 Palm Beach Atlantic University 1760 39604 66701.49
141574 University of Hawaii at Manoa 1760 21177 56340.93
151801 Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion 1760 34922 45327.49
166452 Lesley University 1760 40652 76931.17
182290 University of Nevada-Reno 1760 20542 64103.85
184782 Rowan University 1760 27078 77733.40
206084 University of Toledo 1760 22057 59656.66
210739 DeSales University 1760 47687 75031.58
218539 Presbyterian College 1760 47823 77608.85
233295 Randolph-Macon College 1760 48970 101716.00
200217 University of Mary 1755 24857 82976.51
139931 Georgia Southern University 1750 22424 65970.90
164076 Towson University 1750 22506 77095.16
186876 Stockton University 1750 26929 69005.00
194958 Roberts Wesleyan College 1750 41358 61606.34
196291 SUNY Maritime College 1750 22648 99374.48
210331 Corban University 1750 40469 75110.30
215099 Philadelphia University 1750 50327 74227.51
222178 Abilene Christian University 1750 42942 78310.34
236896 Walla Walla University 1750 36369 82461.18
448840 University of South Florida-St Petersburg 1750 18556 48190.07
Group 3: Colleges by Annual Cost
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
451671 University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee 1790 12515 48190.07
102614 University of Alaska Fairbanks 1790 16025 47045.83
180489 The University of Montana 1820 16807 53879.13
159993 University of Louisiana at Monroe 1768 16944 47736.61
181394 University of Nebraska at Omaha 1813 17148 60067.57
180416 Montana Tech of the University of Montana 1790 17508 52720.93
448840 University of South Florida-St Petersburg 1750 18556 48190.07
200332 North Dakota State University-Main Campus 1780 19198 84969.64
197869 Appalachian State University 1840 19359 71355.60
206604 Wright State University-Main Campus 1770 19446 54689.23
199111 University of North Carolina at Asheville 1860 19760 60253.41
182290 University of Nevada-Reno 1760 20542 64103.85
136172 University of North Florida 1830 20616 52726.76
141574 University of Hawaii at Manoa 1760 21177 56340.93
196176 State University of New York at New Paltz 1810 21716 68525.39
229115 Texas Tech University 1790 21869 71479.98
206084 University of Toledo 1760 22057 59656.66
235167 The Evergreen State College 1780 22253 39228.28
150136 Ball State University 1770 22294 72605.34
139931 Georgia Southern University 1750 22424 65970.90
161253 University of Maine 1788 22444 72127.14
164076 Towson University 1750 22506 77095.16
196291 SUNY Maritime College 1750 22648 99374.48
101709 University of Montevallo 1760 22840 51637.79
237011 Western Washington University 1810 22864 67253.53
174233 University of Minnesota-Duluth 1780 23099 88656.11
157289 University of Louisville 1830 23873 64728.09
232681 University of Mary Washington 1810 24076 89375.32
209542 Oregon State University 1830 24418 60249.05
139861 Georgia College and State University 1830 24478 87662.15
157085 University of Kentucky 1860 24738 79063.79
200217 University of Mary 1755 24857 82976.51
171100 Michigan State University 1840 24976 85377.93
145600 University of Illinois at Chicago 1850 25046 47070.24
204857 Ohio University-Main Campus 1800 25483 68825.06
231712 Christopher Newport University 1850 26286 106437.98
186876 Stockton University 1750 26929 69005.00
184782 Rowan University 1760 27078 77733.40
100751 The University of Alabama 1810 27205 89976.37
234030 Virginia Commonwealth University 1790 28631 69278.62
183044 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus 1800 30246 99680.96
207324 Oklahoma Christian University 1810 30501 80738.19
110671 University of California-Riverside 1840 30943 49287.72
446048 Ave Maria University 1810 31192 93274.32
232557 Liberty University 1770 33078 41805.23
156295 Berea College 1860 34180 26941.64
151801 Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion 1760 34922 45327.49
168740 Andrews University 1840 36206 62556.53
236896 Walla Walla University 1750 36369 82461.18
217633 Anderson University 1773 38307 74297.13
136330 Palm Beach Atlantic University 1760 39604 66701.49
227863 University of St Thomas 1790 40040 54396.70
179894 Webster University 1865 40119 55684.46
210331 Corban University 1750 40469 75110.30
166452 Lesley University 1760 40652 76931.17
148487 Roosevelt University 1845 40660 48666.44
147244 Millikin University 1770 40764 64093.23
194958 Roberts Wesleyan College 1750 41358 61606.34
102049 Samford University 1830 42270 100134.75
180106 Carroll College 1790 42391 87067.02
204635 Ohio Northern University 1830 42680 85486.28
170675 Lawrence Technological University 1770 42707 68357.77
134079 Florida Southern College 1830 42822 80768.92
222178 Abilene Christian University 1750 42942 78310.34
131520 Howard University 1820 43116 55842.08
117751 The Master’s University and Seminary 1810 43200 72097.43
213996 Messiah College 1850 43798 95298.79
204936 Otterbein University 1820 43880 81096.86
208822 George Fox University 1790 43901 75482.35
139144 Berry College 1850 43910 89119.40
201548 Capital University 1780 44099 72510.13
150534 University of Evansville 1830 44416 78175.32
144962 Elmhurst College 1795 44473 66128.17
188429 Adelphi University 1840 45034 78107.88
207458 Oklahoma City University 1790 45171 77081.24
150756 Hanover College 1780 45338 79443.61
121309 Point Loma Nazarene University 1860 45457 87367.78
152600 Valparaiso University 1820 45945 78929.94
140696 Oglethorpe University 1830 46409 59068.45
165936 Gordon College 1850 46520 96159.03
173045 Augsburg College 1765 46545 62105.35
168591 Alma College 1868 46606 76933.67
198695 High Point University 1789 46710 142304.23
154527 Wartburg College 1853 47387 90808.50
110097 Biola University 1850 47468 77676.58
210739 DeSales University 1760 47687 75031.58
218539 Presbyterian College 1760 47823 77608.85
206622 Xavier University 1770 47980 103888.52
203368 John Carroll University 1780 48728 109148.27
168227 Wentworth Institute of Technology 1770 48907 90446.54
233295 Randolph-Macon College 1760 48970 101716.00
152673 Wabash College 1850 48980 95103.06
152390 Saint Mary’s College 1830 49078 105716.47
232308 Hollins University 1840 49184 57137.34
227845 Saint Edward’s University 1820 49239 64351.20
236230 Pacific Lutheran University 1830 49488 72082.49
169716 University of Detroit Mercy 1844 49675 62833.00
230852 Champlain College 1860 49702 83884.22
215099 Philadelphia University 1750 50327 74227.51
192703 Manhattan College 1780 50517 91020.53
150163 Butler University 1860 50538 120099.16
202480 University of Dayton 1860 51320 129649.39
211088 Arcadia University 1790 51888 77160.08
110413 California Lutheran University 1800 52386 81817.18
233426 Roanoke College 1798 52588 100572.43
232256 Hampden-Sydney College 1810 54368 110845.12
130226 Quinnipiac University 1770 56764 122012.89
123554 Saint Mary’s College of California 1840 59167 96530.64
Group 3: Colleges by Family Income
Name SAT Avg Cost Annual Family Income
156295 Berea College 1860 34180 26941.64
235167 The Evergreen State College 1780 22253 39228.28
232557 Liberty University 1770 33078 41805.23
151801 Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion 1760 34922 45327.49
102614 University of Alaska Fairbanks 1790 16025 47045.83
145600 University of Illinois at Chicago 1850 25046 47070.24
159993 University of Louisiana at Monroe 1768 16944 47736.61
451671 University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee 1790 12515 48190.07
448840 University of South Florida-St Petersburg 1750 18556 48190.07
148487 Roosevelt University 1845 40660 48666.44
110671 University of California-Riverside 1840 30943 49287.72
101709 University of Montevallo 1760 22840 51637.79
180416 Montana Tech of the University of Montana 1790 17508 52720.93
136172 University of North Florida 1830 20616 52726.76
180489 The University of Montana 1820 16807 53879.13
227863 University of St Thomas 1790 40040 54396.70
206604 Wright State University-Main Campus 1770 19446 54689.23
179894 Webster University 1865 40119 55684.46
131520 Howard University 1820 43116 55842.08
141574 University of Hawaii at Manoa 1760 21177 56340.93
232308 Hollins University 1840 49184 57137.34
140696 Oglethorpe University 1830 46409 59068.45
206084 University of Toledo 1760 22057 59656.66
181394 University of Nebraska at Omaha 1813 17148 60067.57
209542 Oregon State University 1830 24418 60249.05
199111 University of North Carolina at Asheville 1860 19760 60253.41
194958 Roberts Wesleyan College 1750 41358 61606.34
173045 Augsburg College 1765 46545 62105.35
168740 Andrews University 1840 36206 62556.53
169716 University of Detroit Mercy 1844 49675 62833.00
147244 Millikin University 1770 40764 64093.23
182290 University of Nevada-Reno 1760 20542 64103.85
227845 Saint Edward’s University 1820 49239 64351.20
157289 University of Louisville 1830 23873 64728.09
139931 Georgia Southern University 1750 22424 65970.90
144962 Elmhurst College 1795 44473 66128.17
136330 Palm Beach Atlantic University 1760 39604 66701.49
237011 Western Washington University 1810 22864 67253.53
170675 Lawrence Technological University 1770 42707 68357.77
196176 State University of New York at New Paltz 1810 21716 68525.39
204857 Ohio University-Main Campus 1800 25483 68825.06
186876 Stockton University 1750 26929 69005.00
234030 Virginia Commonwealth University 1790 28631 69278.62
197869 Appalachian State University 1840 19359 71355.60
229115 Texas Tech University 1790 21869 71479.98
236230 Pacific Lutheran University 1830 49488 72082.49
117751 The Master’s University and Seminary 1810 43200 72097.43
161253 University of Maine 1788 22444 72127.14
201548 Capital University 1780 44099 72510.13
150136 Ball State University 1770 22294 72605.34
215099 Philadelphia University 1750 50327 74227.51
217633 Anderson University 1773 38307 74297.13
210739 DeSales University 1760 47687 75031.58
210331 Corban University 1750 40469 75110.30
208822 George Fox University 1790 43901 75482.35
166452 Lesley University 1760 40652 76931.17
168591 Alma College 1868 46606 76933.67
207458 Oklahoma City University 1790 45171 77081.24
164076 Towson University 1750 22506 77095.16
211088 Arcadia University 1790 51888 77160.08
218539 Presbyterian College 1760 47823 77608.85
110097 Biola University 1850 47468 77676.58
184782 Rowan University 1760 27078 77733.40
188429 Adelphi University 1840 45034 78107.88
150534 University of Evansville 1830 44416 78175.32
222178 Abilene Christian University 1750 42942 78310.34
152600 Valparaiso University 1820 45945 78929.94
157085 University of Kentucky 1860 24738 79063.79
150756 Hanover College 1780 45338 79443.61
207324 Oklahoma Christian University 1810 30501 80738.19
134079 Florida Southern College 1830 42822 80768.92
204936 Otterbein University 1820 43880 81096.86
110413 California Lutheran University 1800 52386 81817.18
236896 Walla Walla University 1750 36369 82461.18
200217 University of Mary 1755 24857 82976.51
230852 Champlain College 1860 49702 83884.22
200332 North Dakota State University-Main Campus 1780 19198 84969.64
171100 Michigan State University 1840 24976 85377.93
204635 Ohio Northern University 1830 42680 85486.28
180106 Carroll College 1790 42391 87067.02
121309 Point Loma Nazarene University 1860 45457 87367.78
139861 Georgia College and State University 1830 24478 87662.15
174233 University of Minnesota-Duluth 1780 23099 88656.11
139144 Berry College 1850 43910 89119.40
232681 University of Mary Washington 1810 24076 89375.32
100751 The University of Alabama 1810 27205 89976.37
168227 Wentworth Institute of Technology 1770 48907 90446.54
154527 Wartburg College 1853 47387 90808.50
192703 Manhattan College 1780 50517 91020.53
446048 Ave Maria University 1810 31192 93274.32
152673 Wabash College 1850 48980 95103.06
213996 Messiah College 1850 43798 95298.79
165936 Gordon College 1850 46520 96159.03
123554 Saint Mary’s College of California 1840 59167 96530.64
196291 SUNY Maritime College 1750 22648 99374.48
183044 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus 1800 30246 99680.96
102049 Samford University 1830 42270 100134.75
233426 Roanoke College 1798 52588 100572.43
233295 Randolph-Macon College 1760 48970 101716.00
206622 Xavier University 1770 47980 103888.52
152390 Saint Mary’s College 1830 49078 105716.47
231712 Christopher Newport University 1850 26286 106437.98
203368 John Carroll University 1780 48728 109148.27
232256 Hampden-Sydney College 1810 54368 110845.12
150163 Butler University 1860 50538 120099.16
130226 Quinnipiac University 1770 56764 122012.89
202480 University of Dayton 1860 51320 129649.39
198695 High Point University 1789 46710 142304.23
Summary of Group 3 Colleges:
##     SAT Avg      Cost Annual    Family Income   
##  Min.   :1750   Min.   :12515   Min.   : 26942  
##  1st Qu.:1770   1st Qu.:24025   1st Qu.: 61981  
##  Median :1799   Median :40560   Median : 75296  
##  Mean   :1802   Mean   :36230   Mean   : 75629  
##  3rd Qu.:1830   3rd Qu.:46560   3rd Qu.: 87441  
##  Max.   :1868   Max.   :59167   Max.   :142304

Group 3 colleges: * Average SAT scores: 1802 * Average Annual Cost was $36,230 in 2015.
* Average Family Income of those students who applied for financial aid: $75,629

The Average SAT score for Group 3 colleges is 1802.

Group 3 average annual cost is $36,230.

Group 3 average family income is $75,629.

Bivariate Plots

The scatter plot shows that most colleges in the 90th percentile and above as measured by SAT scores have a higher annual cost than colleges with lower SAT requirements. There are a small number of exceptions at public universities with in-state tuition.

There is a moderate correlation between annual cost and SAT average score. The correlation in our data is: 0.537

## [1] 0.5374964

This scatter plot compares Family Income to SAT Average for those families who applied for Federal Financial Aid. The data shows that average family income is slightly higher for those colleges with higher SAT range.

There is a weak correlation between family income (for those families who applied for Federal Financial Aid) and SAT average score. The correlation in our data is: 0.298.

## [1] 0.2980859

Colleges which require the higher SAT Scores (90th percentile and above) tend to have a higher annual cost than those in the 75-90th and 50-75th percentiles.

Bivariate Analysis

It would be interesting to know if there are relationships between family income and SAT scores and between annual cost and SAT scores.

Correlations:

Correlations between SAT Scores and Annual Cost, 50-75th Percentile:
## [1] 0.1915272

In Group 3, the 50-75th percentile, there is only a .19 correlation between average SAT score and annual cost. SAT Scores are not related to annual cost in Group 3.

Correlations between SAT Scores and Annual Cost, 75-90th Percentile:
## [1] 0.1300599

In Group 2, the 75-90th percentile, there is only a .13 correlation between average SAT score and annual cost. SAT Scores are not related to annual cost in Group 2.

Correlations between SAT Scores and Annual Cost, 90th Percentile and Above:
## [1] 0.347352

In Group 1, the 90th percentile and above, there is a weak correlation of 0.35 between SAT scores and annual cost.

Multivariate Plots

Putting it all together, I wanted to see if we could get a visualization of schools ranked by SAT scores and Annual Cost. The highest SAT scores at the lowest cost would be the best value colleges.

The cost of college is generally higher for colleges in which the average SAT scores are higher. Average family income of financial aid applicants is slightly higher for the 90th percentile group than for the other groups.

When I included colleges which were below the SAT Average mean of 1749 I was surprised to find that there is a high correlation between family income and SAT scores.

## [1] 0.6191821

There was a .62 correlation between family income and SAT scores when the dataset included colleges in which the average SAT scores are below the mean of 1749.

## [1] 0.5142917

There is a moderate correlation of .514 between SAT scores and family income for the 50th percentile and below.

## [1] 0.2980859

There is a weak correlation of 0.3 between SAT scores and family income for the 50th percentile and above.

Multivariate Analysis

A student interested in attending a college in the 90th percentile and up will not have much of a choice in the annual cost of going to college. Almost all colleges in Group 1 cost between $60,000-$70,000 per year with the exception of instate public universities.

A student interested in attending a college in the 50-75th and 75-90th percentiles has many options. Annual cost of attending a college in Groups 2 and 3 can range from less than $20,000 to $70,000 per year. Public universities with instate tuition are less expensive than private universities.

There appears to be a relationship between family income and SAT scores. It would be interesting to investigate further and to consider other variables such as student age, public vs. private colleges, ethnicity, and other demographic data.

Strengths and Limitations of the Data

The dataset only includes data for families who applied for federal financial aid. The numbers for Annual Cost and Family Income may actually be higher if we also had data about families who did not apply for FAFSA, especially in the 90th percentile schools.

Final Plots and Summary

Colleges in which the average SAT scores are below the mean tend to cost less and have students whose average family incomes are lower than those that are above the mean.

It appears that family income is related to SAT scores. The lower the family income, the lower the SAT score, especially when SAT scores are below the mean.

REFLECTIONS

Taking it further, we could break down the data by major. For example, a student majoring in journalism might want to eliminate colleges that do not have a journalism major from the dataset. This analysis used only SAT scores to group the colleges.

It would be interesting to explore further if there is a relationship between family income and average SAT scores. The data shows that there is a correlation between Family Income and High SAT scores. The top 10 percentile of colleges accept students with the highest SAT scores. A student from a higher income family is perhaps more likely to have higher SAT scores.

The data further shows that the average family income in the top 10th percentile, $91,787, is higher than the 75-90th percentile, $87,285, which is in turn higher than the family income in the 50-75th percentile, $75,629. It would be interesting to investigate further to see if family income determines your future SAT scores and therefore your likelihood of getting into a good college and therefore your chances of getting the best education in order to get the best job and preparation for financial success after graduation.

Since colleges select the highest scores in each category and students are able to retake the SAT as many times as they’d like, it’s possible that students in higher income homes were able to spend more money on SAT preparation courses and to take the exam several times more than students who could not afford to retake the exam and thus improve their scores.

It would also be interesting to find out if families with higher incomes are able to provide better quality education at the K-12 grades which leads to higher SAT scores. Perhaps K-12 schools in wealthier neighborhoods and private schools are better prepared to score higher on the SAT which then leads to more opportunities for these students to get into better colleges.